The Stones
Thu, 13 Feb 2003, 09:58 pmAmanda Chesterton2 posts in thread
The Stones
Thu, 13 Feb 2003, 09:58 pmThis is not going to be my usual essay, I'm sorry. I'm knackered.
Saw 'The Stones' last night with two of Perth's best - Sam Longley and Craig Williams.
What I liked: these are not only two of Perth's best actors in the one high-paced show, they're probably some of the best and least-pretentious physical theatre practitioners you'll ever see. Go see this show also to see seamless character changes done at break neck speed. Totally believable and compelling. Craig and Sam are two performers you just can't help but watch for their energy, commitment and sheer 'actorplasm'.
What I wasn't so fond of: I didn't like the music. I didn't feel it added to the show, and while it was a promising start with 'riff, riff' I thought more of this kind of thing could have been used to help us along with the characters of the two boys. I didn't really see any point to the music other than sound novelty-value, and I think if you're going to go to the effort of live music it should do more than that.
What impressed me: the sweating really was prodigious. I was in the back row, and while Craig was very shiny, and looked like he'd walked through a sprinkler after the show, the tracksuit covering all of Sam's 6ft 10in frame completely changed colour with moisture. Bravo.
That's all I have to say. Do see this show, and book it for your schools, teachers. My age-appropriateness estimate would be mature year 6s up.
8pm, Rechabites Hall, Northbridge until 22 February.
[%sig%]
Saw 'The Stones' last night with two of Perth's best - Sam Longley and Craig Williams.
What I liked: these are not only two of Perth's best actors in the one high-paced show, they're probably some of the best and least-pretentious physical theatre practitioners you'll ever see. Go see this show also to see seamless character changes done at break neck speed. Totally believable and compelling. Craig and Sam are two performers you just can't help but watch for their energy, commitment and sheer 'actorplasm'.
What I wasn't so fond of: I didn't like the music. I didn't feel it added to the show, and while it was a promising start with 'riff, riff
What impressed me: the sweating really was prodigious. I was in the back row, and while Craig was very shiny, and looked like he'd walked through a sprinkler after the show, the tracksuit covering all of Sam's 6ft 10in frame completely changed colour with moisture. Bravo.
That's all I have to say. Do see this show, and book it for your schools, teachers. My age-appropriateness estimate would be mature year 6s up.
8pm, Rechabites Hall, Northbridge until 22 February.
[%sig%]
Re: The Stones
Thu, 20 Feb 2003, 04:11 pmWalter Plinge
I saw it last night and I too thought this was a polished performance by any standard. I am used to seeing these two actors in basically humorous roles so was the more impressed at their versatility. Each was utterly convincing both as muckabout teenagers and as hard-nosed cops, despite the fact that costume changes consisted of nothing more than a quick zip.
Added to that was the vocal sound-effects, particularly the sewer-pipe, the car alarm and the pebble creek. All this in an open space with minimal props (a ladder and two saw-horses) and my disbelief was duly suspended.
The question posed by this play - the balance between acceptance of responsibility for ones actions and the long-term legacy of an act of youthful folly (or 'who is the real victim'?) is timeless and one which well warrants a tour of today's high schools. Having worked in the juvenile justice system, I am sure many of those who go through it see it as a sort of lottery, so I felt sympathy for the Shy Boy who showed genuine remorse and antipathy with the Yahoo who showed none.
Which leads me to wonder whether there were alternate endings to the play, depending on response when Detective Russo breaks through the fourth wall and calls for a verdict from the audience. If we'd all shouted 'Guilty!', rather than follow Quinn's line as we did, would the real verdict have reflected that?
All a bit heavy, really. I felt the music was appropriate and helped lighten the atmoshere. I was nevertheless glad I had some comic relief around the corner at the Blue Room afterwards. Oh yes - only 2 nights left!
stinger@iinet.net.au
Added to that was the vocal sound-effects, particularly the sewer-pipe, the car alarm and the pebble creek. All this in an open space with minimal props (a ladder and two saw-horses) and my disbelief was duly suspended.
The question posed by this play - the balance between acceptance of responsibility for ones actions and the long-term legacy of an act of youthful folly (or 'who is the real victim'?) is timeless and one which well warrants a tour of today's high schools. Having worked in the juvenile justice system, I am sure many of those who go through it see it as a sort of lottery, so I felt sympathy for the Shy Boy who showed genuine remorse and antipathy with the Yahoo who showed none.
Which leads me to wonder whether there were alternate endings to the play, depending on response when Detective Russo breaks through the fourth wall and calls for a verdict from the audience. If we'd all shouted 'Guilty!', rather than follow Quinn's line as we did, would the real verdict have reflected that?
All a bit heavy, really. I felt the music was appropriate and helped lighten the atmoshere. I was nevertheless glad I had some comic relief around the corner at the Blue Room afterwards. Oh yes - only 2 nights left!
stinger@iinet.net.au